Chaney Johnson Draws Surprise Start for Nets, But Fantasy Managers Should Pass
Brooklyn handed Johnson his first career backcourt start with Egor Demin out. He posted six points in Detroit's 110-94 win — not a fantasy answer.
Defensive energy is real, but 14.6 FPTS/G and no ranking means leave him be.
- Johnson: 6 pts, 1 stl, 1 blk in 18:32 off the bench role
- Nets lost 110-94, outscored 28-9 in a key stretch
- Cunningham: 20 pts on 6-of-15, 4 turnovers
- Johnson averaging 14.6 FPTS/G in 4 games (2026-27)
- Demin unranked impact: Nets missed his spacing
With Egor Demin sidelined, Jordi Fernández went off-script Friday night, skipping the obvious guard options and handing two-way forward Chaney Johnson just his second career start — and his first ever in the backcourt. The 6-foot-7, 235-pound Johnson logged 18:32 and finished with six points, a steal and a block in Brooklyn's 110-94 home loss to Detroit. The Nets went cold without Demin's playmaking and spacing, and the scoreboard showed it.
The defense, at least, had a pulse. Johnson spent most of his floor time hounding Cade Cunningham, who worked for every one of his 20 points on a pedestrian 6-of-15 shooting with four turnovers. Fernández praised Johnson's effort and purpose after the game, saying he's made the most of his minutes. The problem is the rest of the roster didn't match it — Detroit ripped off a 28-9 run that essentially decided the night.
Chemistry, or the lack of it
Michael Porter Jr. put his finger on the real issue: every night brings a new lineup, and chemistry doesn't materialize overnight. Porter noted that Johnson usually runs plays as a four but was asked to operate as a two with this group, leaving guys unsure where to be on certain sets. That's the cost of a short-handed rotation — the offense never found its looks.
For fantasy purposes, this is a lot of noise around a small signal. Johnson is averaging 14.6 fantasy points per game across four appearances this season (2026-27) and sits unranked in our model. One defensive-minded spot start against a star guard doesn't change that math. His six-point line is exactly what you'd expect from a role player stretched into a position he doesn't normally play.
Demin himself isn't a difference-maker either — he's our No. 165 overall (No. 73 at the position) with 15.8 fantasy points per game this season. If you're hunting Nets guard minutes, Keon Ellis is the more interesting name, quietly at 20.5 fantasy points per game in four games (2026-27) despite ranking No. 240. Ellis didn't start Friday, but his per-minute production is the one worth monitoring.
Bottom line: appreciate Johnson's motor, but keep your waiver claim in your pocket. Until he's drawing consistent starts and touches rather than emergency fill-in duty, there's no fantasy case here. Watch the Nets' rotation when Demin returns, and keep Ellis on your radar in deeper leagues instead.
